Steam and water leakage revealing structure for steam boilers



Feb. 6, 1940.

H. w. POOR 2,189,473 STEAM AND WATER LEAKAGE REVEALING STRUCTURE FOR STEAM BOILERS Filed April 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1940. w POOR. 2,189,473

STEAM AND WATER LEAKAGE REVEALING STRI JCTURE FOR STEAM BOILERS Filed April 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gvwwwtop fiQrvey WPOOT' Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATIENT, OFFICE,

STEAM AND WATER, LEAKAGE REVEALING STRUCTURE FOR STEAM BOILERS Harvey W. Poor, Lexington, Ky. Application April 20, 1938, Serial No. 203,191

. 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a steam and water leakage revealing structure for steam boilers. The structure in accordance with this invention is for correlation with the steam and water spaces of the boiler, both ends of the boiler sight glass, both ends of the water column of the steam boiler and said column adjacent its ends.

An object of this invention is to provide for use in a boiler 'structure a combination of valves which are connected to the boiler, to the boiler sight glass and to the .water column of the boiler {and so arranged that the attendant will be able to quickly determine which one of the valves is in either an open or closed position; so that it will not be necessary in the event a valve is in the wrong position for the attendant to open or close various valves to determine the valve which is in an incorrect position.

Another object of this invention is to'provide in combination with a boiler and a water column having a glass gauge connected thereto, a plurality of double acting valves which are each provided with a drain or outlet connection which is at all times open to the atmosphere for revealing leakage so that the attendant will be able to determine which one of the valves is incorrectly positioned by means of either water or steam flowing out of the outlet pipe.

To the above objects and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention'as claimed. v

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section of a boiler showing the adaptation therewith, in side elevation a steam and water leakage revealing structure, in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical section partly in detail of the steam valve connected to the steam chamber of the boiler, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section partly in detail of the water column and water valve connected to the boiler.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l designates generally a boiler of conventional construction wherein water is positioned to a level designated by the numeral I3. The upper portion I l of the boiler comprises the steam chamber and a steam valve generally designated as'l2 is connected to the top wall of the boiler l0 and communicates with the steam chamber H. A watervalve generally designated as M is connected to a side wall of the boiler ll! below the water level l3 and a water column or-tubular member i5 is connected at one end to the valve l4 and at the other end is connected by means of a pipepl6 to a side of the steam valve i2. The water column I 5 is provided with a plurality of testing valve members l1 which are longitudinally spaced apart along the length of the column so that the operator or attendant may open selected ones of these valve members I! so as to determine the height of the water levelright angular inner leg 2| secured as bya bolt 22 to the adjacent wall of the boiler I'll and the opposite end of the brace is secured as by a'bolt 23 to the lug l9.

' The valve l2 comprises a housing 24 provided with a threaded nipple 25 which is adapted to be threaded into the top Wall 2% of the boiler I0 and an oppositely disposed nipple Z'l'is carried by the-housing 24 and is provided with exterior threads for engagement by a coupling'member or collar 28. A valve bonnet 29 is adapted to engage in the nipple 21 and is provided with a peripheral flange 30 engaging the upper end of the nipple 21. The collaror coupling member 23 is adapted to engage this flange or rib 30 so as to tightly hold the lower portion of the bonnet 29 within the nipple '21. The lower-end of the bonnet 29 is provided with a valve seat 3| and the upper end of the nipple 25 is provided with a valve seat 32 which confronts the valve seat 3 l. A valve plug or head33 is secured to a stem 34 which is threaded as at 35 in the upper portion 35 of the bonnet 29. A cap or gland member 31 is threaded onto the upper end of the bonnet 29 and seals the stem 34 in the bonnet 29. A handle or wheel 38 is secured to the exterior end of the valve stem 34 so that the valve plug may be moved to engagement with either the seat 32 or the seat 3|. 'The nipple 25 has a passage 39 therethrough and communicates with the interior of the housing 24. The bonnet 29 has a passage 40 communicating with the interior of the housing24 and with a chamber 4! provided intermediate the ends of the bonnet 29. A coupling member 42 isthreaded onto the housing 24 and connects the housing 24 with the pipe I5 which communicates with the water column [5. A nipple or length of pipe 43 is connected to the outlet or vent chamber 4| in the bonnet 29 and a steam leakage revealing pipe 44 is connected to this nipple and is extended downwardly along the adjacent wall of the boiler It and is held in a bracket or holder generally designated as 45. A plug 46 is threaded into a side of the housing 24 and provides a means whereby communication may be had with the interior of the housing 24 for cleaning or like purposes.

The valve member I4 is constructed somewhat similar to the valve member I 2 being provided with a nipple 41 which is secured to. a housing 48 by means of a threaded connection or union 49. Preferably the nipple 4'! is provided with a convex end portion 50 engaging a concave seat 5| carried by the housing 48. The housing, 48 is provided with a valve seat 52 on which a double-ended valve head 53 is adapted to engage.

The valve head or plug 53 is secured to a valve stem 54 which is threaded through a bonnet 55 similar in construction to the bonnet 29. The bonnet 55 has a valve seat 56 at the inner end thereof which is adapted to be engaged by the outer end of the double-ended valve plug 53.

The bonnet 55 is detachably held on the housing 48 by means of a nut 51 which engages a flange 58 carried by the bonnet 55. The bonnet 55 is provided with an outlet chamber 59 and a water leakage revealing pipe 60 is connected to this outlet chamber and is extended downwardly and is open at the opposite end thereof. The opposite end of the pipe 50 is secured to the bracket or holder 45 inside by side relation to the pipe 44. The valve stem54 is provided with a hand wheel 6!, and a gland or nut member 52 is threaded onto the outer end of the bonnet 55. A draining or cleaning plug 63 is threaded into the housing 48 in axial alignment with the axis of the water column l5.

A water gauge 64 is connected at one end to an upper water gauge valve 65 which is also connected to the water column 15 and is connected to the opposite end to a lower water gauge valve 66, likewise connected to the water column I 5 adjacent the lower end thereof. The valves 65 and 66 are similar in construction to each other and to the valves 12 and 14. The valve member 65 has a double-ended valve plug 61 secured to a valve stem 58 and in one position the valve plug 61 is adapted to engage a seat 69 for closing communication between the water column l5 and the gauge 64. In the other or opposite position, the valve plug 61 is adapted to engage a seat 1!! carried by the bonnet H of the valve 65. In this latter position the valve plug 61 cuts off com.- munication between an outlet or drain chamber 72 provided in the bonnet H. A steam leakage revealing pipe 13 is connected at one end to the outlet chamber 12 and is then extended downwardly and is connected to the holder or bracket 45.

The valve 66 comprises a double-ended valve plug 14 which in its innermost or cut off position is adapted to engage a seat 15 so as to on off communication between the gauge 64 and the column l5. The valve 56 is also provided with an outer seat 76 which is engageable by the valve plug 14 so as to out 01f communication between the water gauge 64 and a drain chamber 1! provided in the bonnet 18. A water leakage revealing pipe 19 is connected at one end to the outlet chamber 11 and is extended downwardly and connected to the holder or bracket 45. The pipes 44, 60, 13 and 19 may be suitably marked at the point of engagement with the holder or bracket 45 so that the attendant looking at the drain pipes can quickly determine which valve is associated with a particular drain pipe. In this manner in the event either water or steam is being discharged from a drain pipe, the attendant or operator will know at a glance what. valve is in an incorrect or open position.

In the use and operation of this valve structure during normal operation of the boiler, the water valve plug 53 will be engaged with the seat 56 so that free communication may be had between the boiler l8 and the water column l5 below the water level l3. The valve plug 33 of the valve member l2 will also be engaged with the seat 3| so that the steam in the steam chamber H may pass. through the valve l2 into the pipe IS. The upper water gauge valve Bl will be engaged with the bonnet seat 10 and the plug 74 of the valve member 66 will be engaged with the bonnet seat 76. In these positions of the valve plugs communication is out 01f between the leakage revealing pipes associated with the various valve members so that no water or steam will be discharged from the leakage revealing pipes which as hereinbefore stated are at all times open to the atmosphere at their free or lowerends.

Assuming that the positions of the valves have been changed and that the water valve M has the plug 53 thereof engaged with the seat 52. In this position the water in the boiler cannot pass through the nipple 4! into the valve housing 48 and then into the column l5. However, the valve member [2 being in the position shown in Figure 2 will permit steam to passthrough this valve I2 into the pipe 15 and then down through the water column l5. The water in the column l5 will be blown out through the valve housing 48, the bonnet 55 and the leakage revealing pipe 60. After all of the water from the column 15 has been discharged through the pipe 60, steam will be discharged through this pipe 60 and the attendant will thereby know at a glance that the valve plug 53 is in an incorrect position for normal boiler operation.

In the event the valve members I2 and I4 have the plugs 33 and 53 thereof engaging the seats 35, 52 respectively and in the event the valve members 65 and 66 have the plugs 57 and T4 in the positions shown in Figure 3, the steam from the steam chamber 1 I will pass through the water column IS, the valve 65 then up through the water gauge 64 through the bonnet H and the outlet or drain pipe '53. The attendant will thereby know at a glance that with steam dis charging from pipe 13 the valve 65 associated with the drain pipe 13 is not in its correct position for normal boiler operation.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that an improved system of valve connection with a boil er, water column and water gauge has been provided so that the operator or attendant will be able to tell at a glance which one of the various valves is in an incorrect position with respect to normal boiler operation. This improved system will thereby permit the attendant or operator to quickly close the correct valve and eliminate the necessity of opening and closing a number of these valves before being able to properly adjust the correct valve.

What I claim is:

A steam and water leakage revealing structure for revealing the conditions of valve seals for use with the steam and water spaces of a steam boiler having a boiler sight glass and a water column, said structure including in combination an upperv and a lower valve unit arranged relative to the boiler, said upper unit including a steam intake chamber opening into said steam space and the upper end-oi said column, a steam outlet chamber communicating with the, intake chamber, a pair of spaced aligned valve seats and a manually adjustable valve for selective cooperation with said seats for simultaneously closing the steam space to said column and intake chamber and to establish communication between said chambers, for simultaneously closing said outlet chamber to said intake chamber and to establish communication between said column and steam space and for simultaneously establishing cominunicationbetween said Chambers, column and steam space, said lower unit including a water intake chamber opening into said water space and into the lower end of said column, a

to establish communication between said-water intake chamber, water space and column and for simultaneously establishing communication between said intake and outlet water chambers, column and water space, a pair of spaced superposed upper and lower sight glass valve units, one formed with a steam intake and a steam outlet chamber communicating with the latter steam intake chamber and the other sight glass valve unit formed with a water intake chamber and water outlet chamber communicating with the latter water intake chamber, the steam intake chamber of one of the sight glass valve units opening into the upper portion of said column and the upper end of said glass and the water intake chamber of the other sight glass valve unit opening into the lower portion of said column and the lower end of said glass, each of the sight glass valve units including a manually adjustable valve for controlling communication between the chambers thereof the said column and glass, a depending leakage revealing pipe opening into and leading from each of said outlet chambers, the lower end terminal portions of said pipes being disposed in closely related spaced parallel position, and means for maintaining the lower end terminal portions of said pipes in closely related spaced parallel position.

HARVEY W. POOR. 

